The Bible. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God... 2 Tim 3:16

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1 TEACHERS COPY MAY 14, 2017 The Bible All Scripture is given by inspiration of God... 2 Tim 3:16 Examining the Faith Is it true what we believe regarding the Bible. Can you give a reasonable defense to others? Ultimately, do you really know with con>idence that the Bible is God s holy Word? What we believe to be true matters. However, just because we believe something to be true, does not make that, or any other item true. Truth must be linked to reality, or it is something else: i.e. a myth, a legend, a philosophy, an existential thought, a theory and so forth. Therefore, our understanding of truth is especially important when it comes to our faith. Is what we believe true? Is it rooted in something objective, or is it some sort of ancient myth? Is it a philosophy postulated by men, or is it backed up by fact? In this lesson we will examine the question, Is the Bible really God s infallible Word? So no one will be confused, below I have listed what I, and members of Calvary believe CONCERNING THE SCRIPTURES. We believe that the Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments is the verbal and plenary inspired WORD OF GOD, and is inerrant in the original writings, and that it is the only infallible rule of faith and practice of life. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21) You may be surprised to learn that a number of Churches do not believe this to be true. Below are a list of common (but false) positions held by other assemblies. False view #1: Some believe the Scriptures are authoritative but they also believe the Bible contains errors. Therefore, they consider the Bible to be true when referencing salvation, but more likely to be inaccurate when mentioning history, science and miracles. Their position introduces a series of problems. First, they are stating that the Bible is partly from God and partly from tradition or legend. Besides being true in some parts, it is false in others. This it opens a huge door to 1

2 TEACHERS COPY MAY 14, 2017 uncertainty, and doubt and has led many to secularize the biblical message. False View #2: The Bible Becomes the Word of God. Even worse, some hold the Bible to be oral tradition mixed with legend and, myth. To them, the Bible only becomes the Word of God when men have some-kind-of encounter with God. This limited revelation leads one to believe that God for the most part is unknowable. What we do know about God comes from bits and pieces gleaned from human experience. It happens when men have some kind of mystical encounter with God. This is called Neoorthodoxy. To them, trusting God means taking a leap of faith, while hoping there is a God on the other side to catch them. False View #3: The Bible Contains the Word of God. This is what we call liberalism. To them, the Bible contains the Word of God. In other words, one may \ind the Word of God through rational or moral re\lection, with or without the Bible. Furthermore, men must not equate the words of the Bible with the Word of God. This position \latly denies that the Scriptures are inspired of God. To them the Bible is made up of oral tradition mixed with myth and legend. It needs to be deciphered. I had one minister actually tell me that he, and others like him, believe the Old Testament to be written in the basement of the temple a few hundred years before Christ. In his opinion, the Scribes did this to boaster Israel s image in the world. The liberal view on Scripture ultimately leads to neo-paganism, new age thinking and idolatry. False View #4: Church Traditions Are Equal, and at Times Greater Than the Bible. A \inal false position is held by a large segment of Christianity. It teaches that the Church, that is its leaders are the determiner (not the discoverer) of Scripture. They mean the Church is the mother, magistrate, regulator, judge and master of the Scriptures. To them, church traditions are equal and at times superior to the Bible. New revelations are still being made. If these revelations con\lict with what is contained in the Bible, then the new revelation is considered the correct reading. Therefore, only the Church leaders can interpret the Bible. We can not. The Spiritual Warfare for the Soul: You may have already \igured it out, but I must state it, We are in a spiritual warfare for the soul and it begins with the Word of God. Our faith is not only being challenged from outside the walls of the Church that is from a rebellious world, but we are being challenged from within the Church by the undiscerning and the apostate. This breakdown explains why we \ind many Churches practicing all sorts of items forbidden in the Bible. For example, we \ind many Churches endorsing new doctrines, such as slaying in the Spirit, holy laughter, or promoting female pastors. Others have gone further in accepting the practice of homosexuality, same sex marriage and much more. They condone their practices through the dismantling of the Bible and in doing so they have trampled God s precious Word under their feet. Therefore, it is important to know whether the Bible is God s divine revelation, or a tradition that can be changed. Are the Scriptures God s inerrant Word? Or is it a mystical legend that is interesting to read but can be interpreted anyway one feels? Is God really unknowable? Is the Bible a compilation of human experiences which provide no concrete boundaries? Or is the Bible truly God s Word, and must be obeyed? This lesson is going to examine the internal evidence that states the Bible is the inspired Word of God holy and without error. Finally, we will explore what this position means to us and to the world. 2

3 1. How do the following verses help us understand the Bible as the inspired Word of God? 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Job 32:8 a. How do we know the Bible is the inspired Word of God? When we study the Scriptures, we discover that God superintended human authors in such a way that as they used their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error the Words of God s revelation. b. Now I said this, I must prove it. 1) In 2 Timothy 3:16 we \ind the Greek word: qeo/pneustoß theopneustos meaning, God Breathed II Tim. 3:16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro\itable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Theopneustos is a compound Greek word from Qeo\ß Theos God, and pnew pnew breathe. This forms the central idea of inspiration. The Scriptures are God-breathed. The term God-breathed does not express a breathing into the Scriptures by God. Rather, it af\irms that the Scriptures owe their origin to an activity of God and are in the highest and truest sense His creation. It is on this foundation of Divine origin that all the high attributes of Scripture are built. (Revelation and Inspiration, p. 280.) 2) In the Hebrew, we \ind the term, t AmVvˆn neshamah meaning, The breath of the Almighty Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration (breath) of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 3) There is a third term in the Greek, fero/menoi pheromenio meaning, to borne along. It is found in 2 Peter 1:21, where it says, holy men of God spake as they were moved [borne along] by the Holy Ghost. The Greek word indicates the fact that the Spirit so moved in the holy men of God as to secure through them an inerrant record of the mind of God. Therefore, the Bible declares that, The Word came from God s own breath and further states that, holy men of God were carried along by the Holy Spirit as they penned the Scriptures. Another way to say this: God s Word was faithfully transcribed by holy men who were chosen for this high service. The Scriptures also suggests the kind of effect God had on those men as they penned His Word. The Holy Spirit is like a wind that \ills the sails of boats and moves them through the waters. It indicates the kind of divine control God had on the human authors. He moved them as the wind would move a sailboat. 3

4 2. Discuss this statement made by John Wesley in his defense of the Bible. There are four grand and powerful arguments which strongly induce us to believe that the Bible must be from God, viz., miracles, prophecy, the goodness of the doctrine, and the moral character of the penmen. 1. All the miracles \low from divine power 2. All the prophecies \low from divine understanding 3. The goodness of the doctrine \low from divine goodness, and 4. The moral character of the penmen \low from divine holiness. Thus Christianity is built upon four grand pillars, viz. the power, understanding, goodness, and holiness of God. 1. Divine power is the source of the miracles, 2. Divine understanding of all the prophecies, 3. Divine goodness of the goodness of the doctrine, and 4. Divine holiness, of the moral character of the penmen. I beg your leave in order to propose a short, clear, and strong argument to prove the divine inspiration of the holy Scriptures. The Bible must be the invention of either good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God (1) It could not be the invention either of good men or angels; for they neither would nor could make a book and tell lies all the time they were writing it, saying, "Thus saith the Lord," when it was their own invention (2) It could not be the invention of bad men or devils; for they would not make a book which commands all duty, forbids all sin, and condemns their own souls to hell for all eternity (3) Therefore, I draw this conclusion, that the Bible must be given by divine inspiration. John Wesley ( ) Below are a few examples found in the Bible stating divine authorship. 3. What are the six attributes regarding God s Word found in Psalm 19:7-9? The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much \ine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. a. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. b. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple c. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart d. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes e. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever f. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous 4

5 4. Discuss the similar attributes found in Psalm 119:86, 96, 128, 129, 140, 160, 172? a. Faithful v. 86 b. Broad v. 96 c. Right v. 128 d. Wonderful v. 129 e. Pure v. 140 f. Everlasting v. 160 g. Righteous v What attributes are listed in the New Testament 2 Timothy 3:17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23; John 6:63; Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 1:4 a. It is Pro\itable 2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro>itable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. b. It is Quick (Alive) Hebrews 4:12a and Powerful Hebrews 4:12b For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Scripture is living in the sense in which God is the Living God, who acts in accordance with His Word. Therefore, the Word of God is living, it is energized, it is sharp, it pierces, it discerns. 1) It lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). 2) Even Jesus says, The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63). c. Note the Power of God s Word upon the Unsaved 1) Romans 10:17 Brings faith So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 2) 2 Timothy 3:15 Makes us wise unto salvation And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 3) 2 Peter 1:4 Through the great and precious promises of the Word we may become partakers of the divine nature. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 4) Psalms 19:9; 1 Peter 1:23 The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. - 1 Peter 1:23 5

6 d. Note the Power of God s Word upon the Saved 1) It sancti\ies John 17: ) It nourishes and gives strength 1 Peter 2:2 3) It energizes (Effectually worketh) 1 Thess. 2:13 4) It builds us up Acts 20:32 5) It is a purifying agency Eph. 5:26; cf. Ps. 37:31; 119:11 6. What does this mean for us and for the world? 1. We can be con>ident that God has made Himself known to us. He is not unknowable. God is living and revealing Himself to us through His Word, His Son and His Spirit. 2. We can be con>ident knowing that if we placed our trust in Christ we have eternal life: 1 John 5:11 12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 3. We can have con>idence in prayer: 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the con\idence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 4. We can be con>ident that God will one day bring justice to this earth Jesus said, in Matthew 5:18-19 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be ful\illed. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Jesus is either a madman, a liar, or the Son of the living God. The ultimate evidence proving His Words to be true are found in His resurrection from the grave. God declared Him to be His Son with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. His death was seen by hundreds and His post-resurrection and ascension were seen by hundreds of witnesses. He is risen. God s word is true. 6